Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Intention: For all those who serve as leaders in our Lasallian mission, that they may be inspired by the Holy Spirit to great faith and vision.
Today’s Gospel | Matthew 5:1-12a
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.”
From the Seventh Meditation for the Time of Retreat | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
God, having chosen and destined Saint Paul, as the Apostle says, to preach the Gospel to the nations, gave him such knowledge of the mysteries of Jesus Christ that he was enabled, like a good architect, to lay the foundation for the building of the faith and of the religion which God raised up in the cities where Saint Paul announced the Gospel according to the grace that God had given him. He was the first of all to preach in these places. That is why he says quite justly that those to whom he announced the Gospel are his work and that he has begotten them in Jesus Christ.
This means that you are called to lay the foundation for the building of the Church when you instruct children in the mystery of the most Holy Trinity and the mysteries accomplished by Jesus Christ when he was on earth.
Prayer
Eternal Father, we know that you come to us through the people and experiences of our lives and through the scriptures. Help us to say yes to your invitation to make your ways our ways. Teach us to let go of our self-centeredness and our doubts, and to be your presence to one another, especially those who are suffering. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.